KickStarter Swordhaven: Iron Conspiracy - BG1-inspired low fantasy RPG from the ATOM TEAM - now available on Early Access

[std::namespace]

if i hear a 'gather party venturing forht' quip, im refudning

 

[Feyd Rautha]

Too bad that phrase got turned into a meme and ruined.

 

[CoronerZg]

Baldur's Gate 1 had this unbelievable atmosphere and charm, that none of these shit spiritual sequels like Kingmaker, PoE, Dragon Age, etc ever came close to touching. Hope these guys can do it.

And top tier sound design and music... Baldur's Gate has one of if not THE best soundtracks in gaming history.
So I hope Atom Team at least understands how important sound design is, for this kind of game. And
if they come even close to BG in that respect, it will be achievement in itself.

 

[std::namespace]

i want to play this right now, like literally as im typing this...
been playing all kinds of hardcore tactikewl and im burned the fuck out - need COMFY and cute asap!

 

[PorkyThePaladin]

Baldur's Gate 1 had this unbelievable atmosphere and charm, that none of these shit spiritual sequels like Kingmaker, PoE, Dragon Age, etc ever came close to touching. Hope these guys can do it.

Thanks man, we played a lot of it in the last few years, hopefully some of it sticks.

I am sure you guys have a lot on your plate as far as systems, combat, world design, writing, etc, but here's my 2 cents about why BG1 was so special atmosphere-wise and why most games since that tried to recapture that failed:

1. For the love of God, keep modern politics, ideologies, perspectives, and issues out of it. However you might feel about lesbians, trannies, sexually ravenous furries, republicans vs democrats, putler, the cultural revolution, ayatollahs' sex toys, whatever it is, it does not belong in a fantasy world. You want to create a world where even if it is dark and dangerous and full of danger and suffering in its own way, it is a world of fantasy, tinged with that special kaleidoscope of childhood wonder.

2. Balance good vs evil VS too much shades of gray. Don't create cartoonish heroes and villains, but also don't create a modern cast of characters so grimdark or complicated that you can't tell who is good or who is evil.

3. Small touches matter. Is your UI a modern transparent purely functional shitfest, or is it a rich atmospheric addition to the game? Things like the background UI looking like castle stones in BG1, or the tooltips unrolling like parchment paper are great for that. Also the sounds of the world, the background banter in taverns, the animal noises outside, are they immersive and pleasant or want you to rip your own balls off with an angry cat, like say in Divinity Original Sin? Do the weapons have unique backstories or are they Diablo style random loot?

4. Do places you visit look cozy and lived in, or like they have been randomly plopped down by a bored intern in Unity? Are the graphics cartoonish and overly bright, or do they look like something out of a classical painting? This kind of tone can play a major role in how the game feels.

5. When it comes to the story, try to make it interesting in the same way that a good book is interesting (engaging characters, plot twists, intrigues) but please stay away from overly emo stuff (like Irenicus constantly whining in BG2). BG1 had great twists: Gorion's Assassination + Iron Crisis > The Mines being corrupted + mages wreaking havoc > The Iron Throne > Finally Sarevok and Bhaal's legacy and ascension. So you want stuff like that, and not the simplistic plots of many of the so called spiritual successors (oooh let's go hunt some sourcerers, or lets have 20 chapters of some retarded nymph sendings waves of shit at my castle).

 

[Jeskis]

Oooh, I really doubt we'll be competing with BG3. I mean that's like a tripple A game, and we're mostly Unity powered. We're trying to pretty it up pretty hard though.

I mean yeah, I understand. I also can’t be bothered playing any more games that look samey. At least consider investing in making plenty of 3D assets, preferably having a 3d in-game model for each obtainable item so they could be placed around making locations look interesting — another thing that BG3 does right.

Oh and you absolutely can compete with BG3 in the field of writing. Have you considered hiring JarlFrank ?

 

[Tyranicon]

Oh and you absolutely can compete with BG3 in the field of writing.

Especially talented middleschoolers can compete with BG3 in writing. And 99% of the games industry.

And modern film and TV.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Have you considered hiring @JarlFrank

The dude, uh, doesn't have a foot in the door, so to speak.

 

[Cyberarmy]

been playing all kinds of hardcore tactikewl and im burned the fuck out - need COMFY and cute asap!

Same here, just installed Kingmaker for this sole purpose and enjoying the forests, grasslands...

 

[lukaszek]

Will you be able to kill Drizzt not-do'urden by dialogue locking him?

https://i.giantitp.com//comics/oots/oots0044.gif

 

[JarlFrank]

Oh and you absolutely can compete with BG3 in the field of writing. Have you considered hiring @JarlFrank ?

Yeah I'd be up for it but expect lots of thinly veiled racist rants foot fetishism from some NPCs.

My expertise lies in interesting multiple choice quests with lots of variables and unusual premises. If you're interested, Atomboy, I can give you examples from past and current projects in private.

 

[Camel]

Yeah I'd be up for it but expect lots of thinly veiled racist rants foot fetishism from some NPCs.

My expertise lies in interesting multiple choice quests with lots of variables and unusual premises. If you're interested, @Atomboy, I can give you examples from past and current projects in private.

You should work under pseudonym like the videogame Dalton Trumbo.

 

[std::namespace]

Same here, just installed Kingmaker for this sole purpose and enjoying the forests, grasslands...

what forests? you mean this vulgar, disgusting thing?
i get the shakes just thinking about watching the tin horse crawl along those idiotic paths and loading those 2x2 maps with room-fight-loot
fucking hell

 

[cyborgboy95]

Wow never know Atom Team 's audiences in Japan is that large (more than the USA), I mean I'm Asian too but this still comes as a surprise.

 

[Beans00]

I usually just beg for games but I'll buy your game when it comes out as thanks for making my favorite fallout knockoff.


Looking forward to this.

 

[Atomboy]

if i hear a 'gather party venturing forht' quip, im refudning

What would you wish to hear instead? We haven't voiced those lines yet and are open to suggestions!

I usually just beg for games but I'll buy your game when it comes out as thanks for making my favorite fallout knockoff.


Looking forward to this.

Thanks man!

Wow never know Atom Team 's audiences in Japan is that large (more than the USA), I mean I'm Asian too but this still comes as a surprise.

Believe it or not, it's a surprise for us as well. A really nice one tho!

Oh and you absolutely can compete with BG3 in the field of writing. Have you considered hiring @JarlFrank ?

Yeah I'd be up for it but expect lots of thinly veiled racist rants foot fetishism from some NPCs.

My expertise lies in interesting multiple choice quests with lots of variables and unusual premises. If you're interested, Atomboy, I can give you examples from past and current projects in private.

Hey, that would be cool, I'll show the guys. Though sad truth is we are not in the right place to hire professional help at the moment, we might be able to in the future.

Baldur's Gate 1 had this unbelievable atmosphere and charm, that none of these shit spiritual sequels like Kingmaker, PoE, Dragon Age, etc ever came close to touching. Hope these guys can do it.

Thanks man, we played a lot of it in the last few years, hopefully some of it sticks.

I am sure you guys have a lot on your plate as far as systems, combat, world design, writing, etc, but here's my 2 cents about why BG1 was so special atmosphere-wise and why most games since that tried to recapture that failed:

1. For the love of God, keep modern politics, ideologies, perspectives, and issues out of it. However you might feel about lesbians, trannies, sexually ravenous furries, republicans vs democrats, putler, the cultural revolution, ayatollahs' sex toys, whatever it is, it does not belong in a fantasy world. You want to create a world where even if it is dark and dangerous and full of danger and suffering in its own way, it is a world of fantasy, tinged with that special kaleidoscope of childhood wonder.

2. Balance good vs evil VS too much shades of gray. Don't create cartoonish heroes and villains, but also don't create a modern cast of characters so grimdark or complicated that you can't tell who is good or who is evil.

3. Small touches matter. Is your UI a modern transparent purely functional shitfest, or is it a rich atmospheric addition to the game? Things like the background UI looking like castle stones in BG1, or the tooltips unrolling like parchment paper are great for that. Also the sounds of the world, the background banter in taverns, the animal noises outside, are they immersive and pleasant or want you to rip your own balls off with an angry cat, like say in Divinity Original Sin? Do the weapons have unique backstories or are they Diablo style random loot?

4. Do places you visit look cozy and lived in, or like they have been randomly plopped down by a bored intern in Unity? Are the graphics cartoonish and overly bright, or do they look like something out of a classical painting? This kind of tone can play a major role in how the game feels.

5. When it comes to the story, try to make it interesting in the same way that a good book is interesting (engaging characters, plot twists, intrigues) but please stay away from overly emo stuff (like Irenicus constantly whining in BG2). BG1 had great twists: Gorion's Assassination + Iron Crisis > The Mines being corrupted + mages wreaking havoc > The Iron Throne > Finally Sarevok and Bhaal's legacy and ascension. So you want stuff like that, and not the simplistic plots of many of the so called spiritual successors (oooh let's go hunt some sourcerers, or lets have 20 chapters of some retarded nymph sendings waves of shit at my castle).

That's some nice advice, we're really pushing on what you mentioned in 3, but time will tell if it works out. And the plot is gonna be something special... If we pull it off!
No promises tho!!

 

[Morroweird]

Baldur's Gate 1 had this unbelievable atmosphere and charm, that none of these shit spiritual sequels like Kingmaker, PoE, Dragon Age, etc ever came close to touching. Hope these guys can do it.

And top tier sound design and music... Baldur's Gate has one of if not THE best soundtracks in gaming history.
So I hope Atom Team at least understands how important sound design is, for this kind of game. And
if they come even close to BG in that respect, it will be achievement in itself.

When I think of "Safe in Beregost" I think of home.

And when I hear the boots on the cobblestones and the clinking of chainmail I think me and my comrades can do anything.

So much of this.

 

[Abu Antar]

Yeah I'd be up for it but expect lots of thinly veiled racist rants foot fetishism from some NPCs.

My expertise lies in interesting multiple choice quests with lots of variables and unusual premises. If you're interested, @Atomboy, I can give you examples from past and current projects in private.

You should work under pseudonym like the videogame Dalton Trumbo.

Jarlton Frankowich.

 

[Viata]

I wished they had take inspiration from Icewind Dale or even Temple of Elemental Evil. I miss modern RPGs (non-wizardry clones) allowing me to create my own party.

 

[std::namespace]

What would you wish to hear instead? We haven't voiced those lines yet and are open to suggestions!

hire this guy, tell him to do the evil elf voice from rogue trader and the same character too...
fucking loved it in rogue trader
great voice, also the swings of pace over a sentence, very theatrical


make a character hum this

 

[ERYFKRAD]

What would you wish to hear instead?

Collect thy retinue and advance.
Or a variant of "bros don't leave bros behind bro".

 

[Lhynn]

I agree with the barbarian, should be different than "Gather your party" shit. Going to feel cheap if thats what you go for.

 

[cyborgboy95]

 

[Hace El Oso]

Charm was never a defining quality in BG1.

Iron crisis, upcoming war, bandits problem… There was a pervading darkness everywhere you went… You were being hunted, on the run, with a party that seemed to come apart at the seams every time you made a moral choice, with nowhere to go back to and no real lead on where to go next, you are free from the start to do as you please, with a few suggestions here and there..

Yes, it is the very picture of charm.

 

[Tyranicon]

What would you wish to hear instead?

Collect thy retinue and advance.
Or a variant of "bros don't leave bros behind bro".

Collect yo bitches.